Jamal Baptiste shares Sheffield United target and makes Japhet Tanganga admission
Sheffield United defender Jamal Baptiste is hopeful of enjoying a strong 2026/27 campaign at Bramall Lane.
Defender Jamal Baptiste is backing himself to break into Sheffield United's first team this season amid an encouraging pre-season campaign.
The centre-back maintained his 100 per cent record of starting for the Blades this summer by featuring from the start in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Rotherham United at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, partnering Japhet Tanganga in the heart of the defence.
Baptiste has taken advantage of United's limited options at centre-back, as well as manager Chris Wilder's decision that Mark McGuinness is not part of his plans for the upcoming campaign. It is no secret that the Blades want to strengthen their defensive options with Leicester City centre-back and former loanee Harry Souttar.
Nevertheless, with options currently limited, Baptiste, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham, has taken advantage of the situation this pre-season, getting plenty of minutes under his belt. With just one pre-season friendly remaining — a clash with VfL Bochum in Germany next Saturday — the 22-year-old is confident he can enjoy a breakthrough season at Bramall Lane this term.
“I have been working hard over the off-season,” Baptiste told BBC Radio Sheffield. “I have come back really fit and strong, so I’m just doing everything right in training, and I’m glad to be getting the minutes going into the beginning of the season.
“I feel really confident in myself. I feel strong, powerful, and I feel like I have a really good chance of breaking in.”
The former West Ham United youngster has spent the bulk of pre-season playing alongside Tanganga in the middle of United’s back four, meaning their on-field relationship is heading in the right direction.
“I think me and him have a really good relationship at the moment,” Baptiste continued, addressing his bond with Tanganga. “We have been playing quite a bit throughout this pre-season.
“He is a great leader, so that is all I could ask for.”
Having started each of the Blades' first five friendlies this summer, Baptiste's hopes of starting the season opener against Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup first round in a fortnight's time will be growing. However, he admitted that he is yet to have a discussion with Wilder about the size of the role he could be set for this term.
“We haven’t had a specific one-to-one conversation about that,” Baptiste added. “I am just doing what he wants from all of his defenders and all of his players.”